ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Smart material

Smart material is like a magic material that can change its shape, color, or other properties when it gets a signal or an input.

Imagine you have a toy that looks like a ball, but when you press a button, it becomes a cube. That's a smart material toy!

The smart material is not just for toys; it's used in real-life things like clothes, shoes, cars, and even buildings.

Let's say you wear a jacket made of smart material. When it's cold outside, the material senses the temperature and makes the jacket thicker to keep you warm. When it's hot, the material becomes thinner and breathable, so you don't sweat.

In shoes, smart material is used to make the sole softer or harder depending on the surface you walk on. When you walk on a rocky area, the sole becomes harder to protect your feet, and when you walk on a smooth surface, it becomes softer to give you more comfort.

The most popular smart material is called shape-memory alloys. It's a magic metal that can change its shape when you heat it or cool it down. So it can be used in many things like glasses that bend without breaking, artificial muscles, or even in the engines of planes to make them more flexible and durable.

In simple words, smart material is like having superpowers for clothes, shoes, or any other thing we use every day. They can sense, adapt, and transform themselves to make our lives easier and more comfortable.